Centrica Commits £2.4 Million to Multibank Charity Founded by Gordon Brown
Energy giant Centrica has unveiled a significant £2.4 million partnership with the Multibank charity, established by former prime minister Gordon Brown, in a major boost to efforts tackling poverty across the United Kingdom. The three-year agreement, announced today, aims to expand the charity's reach and provide critical support to families grappling with severe material deprivation and fuel poverty.
Expanding Support for Families in Need
The partnership was formally launched at The Big House Multibank hub in Lochgelly, Fife, where Gordon Brown and Centrica chief executive Chris O'Shea met with actor and Multibank trustee Arabella Weir to discuss the initiative's expansion. Under the terms of the deal, Centrica will contribute £800,000 annually to strengthen the Multibank's core operations, establish new satellite hubs, and increase the supply of essential household goods. These items include warm bedding, clothing, baby products, hygiene supplies, and furniture, all targeted at alleviating the intense cost-of-living pressures faced by vulnerable households.
Multibank's Impact and Collaboration with British Gas Energy Trust
Since its inception in 2022, the Multibank charity has grown to operate six hubs nationwide, collaborating with over 100 businesses. It has distributed more than 14 million essential items, primarily from retail return stock, to over two million families through a network of more than 3,000 local charities. In a parallel development, the Multibank announced a collaboration with the British Gas Energy Trust. This partnership will enable families identified by the charity's partners to access energy debt relief, emergency fuel vouchers, and grants for white goods, providing a more holistic approach to support.
Voices from the Partnership
Gordon Brown emphasised the need for a collective effort, stating, "Britain needs a Coalition of Compassion — government, businesses and communities working together to prevent families falling into hardship. No family should be forced to choose between heating and eating. By linking The Multibank's local networks with Centrica and the British Gas Energy Trust, this partnership means more families can get the essential goods and support they need alongside immediate help with heating and energy costs."
Chris O'Shea highlighted the interconnected nature of poverty, noting, "When people fall behind on their energy bills, they are almost always struggling with everything else too. Poverty doesn't happen in silos — a broken cooker, a lack of warm bedding or mounting energy debt can tip families into crisis. Working with the Multibank allows us to support families earlier with both essentials and targeted energy help — from emergency fuel vouchers to white goods grants — so they can stay warm, safe and secure this winter and beyond."
Tracey Talbot, interim chief executive at British Gas Energy Trust, added, "For the Trust, working in partnership and collaboration with charities like the Multibank means we can offer more rounded, practical support for people, combining energy debt relief and emergency support with access to the everyday essentials many of us take for granted. Together we can reach more people, provide support where it's needed, and make sure no one is left struggling to survive. Working together, we can make a real difference."
Government Support and Broader Context
Minister for energy consumers Martin McCluskey welcomed the initiative, stating, "Tackling the affordability crisis is this Government's number one priority. That is why we are extending the £150 Warm Home Discount so millions of eligible families will receive it in winter for the rest of the decade, and taking an average of £150 of costs off energy bills from April. This crucial initiative builds on that work – providing vital support to those who need it most, this winter and beyond." The partnership underscores a growing emphasis on public-private collaborations to address the ongoing cost-of-living challenges affecting households across the nation.
